An Interesting Terrain Tile Method

   I won't bore you with a repost, but you should check out this link to Wargames and Stuff, a blog by a fellow named Brent. I don't know him personally, but he has devised a method of making 1' x 1' tiles that seems very inexpensive (always nice!) and fairly tough. On top of all of that, the instructions are really pretty simple. So, check it out. Kick the tires. I'm kind of thinking about giving his ideas a shot in the near future.

  End of the month coming up rapidly. Will I finish my goals? Oh, the anxiety! I am sure you all wait with baited breath to learn the dread secrets of my man cave...

   Oh, and for the record, I did not win the MegaMillions on my own. Might have with the pool of tickets from school. If we won, there will be a large number of people calling in rich once we have the money. I think I will get about $10 million in my share, pre-tax. So I should only owe a few thousand once the taxes are assessed...

   Yes, that was a joke. It's late.

Have You Ever Noticed...

...that when you are away from your paints, minis, scalpels, bits, et cetera, you really, really get inspired to work on something? This is happening to me in a big way here in Minnesota. And blast it all, I have nothing to work with! And somehow, I don't think the memsahib is going to take it too kindly if I suggest a field trip to the arts and crafts and dollar stores to start a new kitbash.

But the Colonel and Dampfpanzerwagon's latest scratchbuilds have my juices flowing. I want to work on something!

AAARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!!!

At least I can get on eBay and look for bits...

One post.

  One stinking post in January. One! The worst month I have had since starting the blog, I think. The problem is that I spend too much time doing other things besides playing with my toys and dreaming up new and unusual ways of creating anachronisms.

  Heck, I haven't even been trolling for new mini ideas lately. The only game related thought I have had all week was on the way home from work I thought about my stalled 6mm project for WTNW and about how I am going to have to miss OwlCon this year (Austin for my son's rugby game, much more important, but still an irritating scheduling conflict). The thought for my project was that I could play it on a board that I got from a fellow named Dan (better known around TMP as Cacique Caribe). Beautiful boards, I know I have shared photos of them previously.

  And the Aethergraph, just languishing there, waiting for the new edition to come out. Show of hands, how many of you miss the old girl? Don't even get me started on the backlog of editing I have to do.

  Why do I wonder why so few people follow this blog anymore? Its nothing but self-indulgent whining. It used to be entertaining and informative. Is the magic gone? Should I pack up shop and move everything lock, stock, and barrel over to my other blog, which sees a little more action? Another poll idea...

   So a couple of polls, and trying to get my head on straight. Thanks for bearing with me. Its been a rough six months or so.Once I get some more painting and ideas rolled up, I'll post more.

Looking back to 2010

   This time of year, it is common practice to look back over the previous annum, and consider how one could have done a better job at, well, whatever it is you do. For me, that means a few things: Husband, daddy, teacher, gamer. As far as the first three go, I do a great job. In my not so humble opinion.

   Regarding gaming, however, it was a very hit-or-miss kind of year. I started off fairly strong with painting, really through until about April or May. Since then, virtually no painting of consequence has been accomplished. For wargaming, I went to Historicon, and got in a good half dozen games or so. One big convention, one small one (OwlCon, here in Houston). Made several monthly games with my local group, though not one VSF game. They lean rather strongly towards historicals, especially Ancients, lately. Writing wise, I did no real writing, but I have made some strong contributions to a new line of wargames rules as editor for The ArmChair General. Plus, I did get out two issues of The Aethergraph. And for the last major category of my gaming hobby, we come to roleplaying. Which we finished off the year fairly strongly, with a new D&D 3.5 campaing underway since September.

   So, looking forward for 2011, what are my goals? I think it's important to set goals, as guidelines for a scope of work if nothing else. So, what are they?

• Painting (VSF only): Finish Automaton army in both 15 and 25 mm. Finish British infantry in 25mm.
• Writing: Write at least one chapter a month in the book, and edit at least three projects with ACG.
• Publishing: Get out three issues of The Aethergraph.
• Gaming: Make at least one convention, plus 8 monthly meetings.
• RPG: Get players to the Isle of Dread so they can get eaten by dinosaurs.
• Blog: At least one post per week for each of my two blogs.

   I think these are realistic and achieveable goals. Only time will tell. Stick around, and see where we go, or check things out at The Scattergun Gamer.

[OOC] Indecision Delays

So, its been a little while since I posted anything. With Christmas just around the corner, and all the time demands that brings, to be honest, I haven't lifted paintbrush, nor really considered a single scenario in a week. The closest I have come has been lurking and posting on TMP in the wee hours or from work.

Well, that's not entirely true. I started on some telegraph poles that I have decided I cut way too tall. So I need to fix that.

Anyway, the point of this post was indecision delays. I was corresponding with another gamer today, and he mentioned how his current project is stalled out while he tries to decide exactly what he wants to do with it. And that got me to thinking about how many of my projects have stalled for extended periods for exactly the same reason: indecision.

I think it stems from two things: perfectionism and lack of funds.

Perfectionism is that drive that I have when it comes to my miniatures to get them 'just right.' That doesn't necessarily mean historically accurate. With VSF, it often does not mean that. I mean that it looks 'right' to me, and is such that I think others will ooh and aah over them toa degree. I don't expect abjecy adoration. Besides being blasphemous, I think its ridiculous considering my skills in converting and painting. I'm decent, but not more than that, and so expecting a lot of WOW factor is not in the cards. But everyone likes to have their efforts appreciated, and the more thought that goes into the project, the better the results are likely to be. Since we want the best we are capable of, this leads to lots of thought. In turn, it means a lot of time spent planning and less in doing. The end result is that little gets done, although perhaps it is of a better quality. I actually ran a poll over that not too long ago.

Lack of funds is an even more fundamental cause of indecision. If, like me, your gaming budget is rather limited, you simply can't afford to buy new minis when your conversion doesn't go as planned, or the paint job comes out completely horrible, or what have you. So we again spend a lot of time in thought and planning and tweaking ideas, rather than implementing them. Again, delay through indecision.

Is there a fix? Beyond massive government bailouts of the wargaming community, that is? (Sorry - no more politics, I promise.) I don't know if there is, but I know I need to get something done, or the Lead Pile may cause the Earth to wobble.

Thanks for listening. Let me know what you think.

[OOC] Adding to Eli's Lamentation

I was checking out Eli's blog I See Lead People (http://leadpeople.blogspot.com/) today. I do that a lot. He's doing some interesting things.

Eli lamented the fact that he didn't get too much accomplished on his projects as he had hoped to do in the month of November. That got me to thinking (always a Bad Idea) about how much I had gotten done.

And by 'done,' I mean get 'em off the painting/converting table and into storage until its game time.

And I am whiffing. Batting 0.000. I got a good bit of parts of a few projects done, but actually finishing anything? Not that I can tell. The closest I came to that was realizing my heart just wasn't in Napoleonics right now and packing that stuff away until such time as it is. But that's not the same as 'done.'

I worked on deathrays, and got a few of them done. Now I only need about seven more, and I have to buy some minis to get there. It being Christmas time, I should probably wait and see what I get for Christmas before I go buying lead.

I started on a few Papal Infantry. Again, waiting for additional stocks of lead to arrive. I suppose the fact that I came up with a color scheme I like is something...

I started repainting some Seebattalion troops into Etherschiffetruppen. I got about four or five close to done. Out of 20. So, progress, but no completion!

I started a minor conversion of a Battleball (sci-fi football board game, Milton Bradley I think) figurine into a 25mm German Power Armor Assault Trooper with Experimental Handwavium Engine. Even sculpted the Handwavium port (think Iron Man movie, but on the back and green not blue) and have that glued on. Still got a ways to go.

Re-visited the whole rocket situation for the second Sentinel. Decided to use the skinny missiles, even though I am not super happy with them. I would really like to find some 25/28mm Hale's or even Congreve rockets.

Worked some more on the rivers terrain project, including creating a narrow ford. Still, nothing completed.

I really need to just sit down and finish something. Anything. I know it will make me feel better. Maybe I will get something done tomorrow, as I am taking the day off work (been feeling rather ill, actually, so maybe not).

Thanks for listening to me whine on. Maybe, if I get anything done this week, there will be a more interesting post.

[OOC] Other Projects in the Works/Planned

There has been a sort of request to mention all of the plans I have for VSF gaming, as I listed all the aerial stuff previously. So, here's the ground and riverine stuff. Note that this does not include all the stuff already completed (which is as nothing compared to the nefarious grand plan)...

15/18mm:

• Pontifical forces: Zouaves, Infantry, and Artillery [Freikorps]. Purchased via Little Wars on Saturday, awaiting shipment of the order. Call it 45 minis.
• Texicans: Already have the minis [Freikorps Span-Am War Americans], just need to paint.
• British: Lancers, already have Old Glory minis, just need to get to painting them. Need to finish repaints on purchased naval brigade troops.
• Sidewheeler gunboat: Purchased. I have been adding wooden decking to it, and some cladding. Totally unpainted and still in need of lots of work. Will have interchangeable flagpole.
• French. Need some kind of cavalry and artillery. They only have infantry [Stone Mountain FFL] and one walker, though I have parts for more. Want at least one more officer figure for use with native troops if I give them over to the French for a scenario. I need pilot figures, though. Hmm...
• Steam launches. Technically, could be used as small boats for 25/28mm as well. Assembled, working on paint. Three of these, one pretty much done, except I need to rig up the sails, and come up with some kind of boiler. I am trying to make it where I can rig it either way - sail or steam. In addition, you can change out the flags to change nationality. Otherwise they are pretty non-specific.
• German Armored Suit. A "paint, flag and coal bunker" conversion from a MechWarrior: Dark Ages figure. Flamer and big slashing blade harvester thingy. About 2/3 finished.
• Martians. Black Hat, via Scale Creep. Just ordered some Ghost Archers to try out. Also, some Imperial Martians with guns and more with swords. I probably ought to do some more Imperial Guards, too. Two guns is enough, though.
• Dinosaur Howdahs. Have 9 Schleich Triceratops, which I want to mount platforms upon two or three. Rest are wild. Will be used with 25/28mm as well.
• Dinosaurs. Need at least three more Schleich Velociraptors. No, they are not to scale. So what? Will be used with 25/28mm as well.
• Germans. I have one German officer. That's it so far. Need at least one more officer and some troops, probably 20 or so, plus a gun.
• Prof. Maton: Have a mini, started painting. Assistant? Minions? Still need those. I do have a generic Oriental woman, maybe she's a mysterious Eastern assistant/spy for Fu Manchu? You can never trust your fellow evil geniuses...
• Personalities: Her Majesty, God Bless Her. Theodore Roosevelt. More mad scientist types (Tesla, etc.)
• Zombies. Yeah, I gotta have some of them, too. Raised from the dead by a fiendish device of some mad scientist, or the ancient technology of the Martians (Black Hat's Martian Thought Projector? Hmm...)

25/28mm:

• Sentinels conversion. One essentially done, only needs dullcote and pennant. Other completely untouched, although I have started to try to sculpt the big bombardment rocket launchers for it.
• AT-ST: Convert Star Wars Miniatures AT-ST to German walker. On hold.
• Steam-powered cavalry. Lots of different MageKnight toys being used here. Horses and rams (US or Texican, not sure yet), and cats (French). Need cavalry figures to mount on them, bases, paint touch-up, and so on. Essentially, nothing done but getting the mounts themselves.
• Martian Askaris/Sepoys: RAFM Colonial Martians. Ten down, nine to go (I think). Painted in neutral khaki, can be used for any native troops, be it German askaris, British sepoys, or even French tirailleurs martienne.
• Masked Minions: Purchased, but not even undercoated yet. These are the human minions of Professor Otto Maton. Need a special weapons figure or two.
• Clockwork Men: One down. Have one more, need to get a few more from London War Room. Maybe three or four more. Also used with 15/18mm.
• Hoverbots. Technically aerial, I guess, but not mentioned previously. Hydra Miniatures, IIRC makes a great hoverbot that I want to get for these - ten of them. I am going to add some details (maybe a clockwork key) and they will be Maton's flying minions. Also will be used with 15/18mm.
• Steam Spiders. Wyrd Miniatures. Nine of ten done. Also used with 15/18mm.
• Prof. Maton, Himself. Almost finished. Basework, a highlight on his massive wrench, and dullcote, he's done. But he needs an assistant or two. Need to find one (or two).
• Venusian Lizardmen. Two types, gex [GW old skinks] and gaters [GW old saurus]. Probably have about all the gex I need, but have a lot to paint still (about 40 or so left.) Way short on my gaters. Need to get enough to finish second unit of regular gaters and then I need Temple Guard for elite gaters. Also used with 15/18mm.
• Pappegaivolk: Have the parts for ten [GW Kroot]. Have begun on the project, but... slow progress. Eventually want 20 total. Could be used with 15/18mm, but are really too darned big for that.
• Germans. Mordians for VSF weapons, need more of them. Want grenade launcher, a few riflemen, sergeant and officer, have several mortars and flamethrower. Also, just need some good Seebattalion or Schutztruppen. About 20 or so of them would be good. Do have a good commanding officer in dress uniform, Herr Oberst Hans Klarkopf.
• British. Just about done. Have to finish up a few Praetorians that I (and everyone else) will use for VSF weapons (the voltaic rifle, the flame projector, the Portable Shoulder Mount Miniature Congreve Launcher, the Caloric Ray Emitter, etc.)
• German Landship. Got to either scratchbuild or purchase one of these. Leaning towards building.
• British Landship. Backburner, but definitely want to do one eventually.
• Martians. Parroom Station Martians. I want to get some Sverdvolk or whatever they call them, and Royal Infantry (maybe 40 or so of them). Also, I have a few of their characters, and want more civilian types. RAFM as well. Real mixed bag on the Martians.
• Turks. Over the Wire figures wanted.
• Texicans. Searching for suitable figures. Leaning towards Boxer Rebellion US Marines or Span-Am American infantry.
• French. Foreign Legion (Legion Extraterrestriale), Spahis or some sort of cavalry to mount on steam cats. Probably one gun. Leaning towards Askari Figures.
• Pontifical. At least some Zouaves. Need to find figures.
• Plantmen. Hydra Miniatures has some really cool looking plantmen, the Vardu, that I am dying to use as well. I may just get the smaller ones and use them with 15/18mm though, as I already have two major races in this scale for Venus.
• Personalities: Her Majesty, God Bless Her. Theodore Roosevelt.

Sadly, there are probably at least a half dozen more ideas and projects currently on the boil. Plus terrain. Add in the dabbling in 15mm Napoleonics (check that out on my other blog www.leadwellington.blogspot.com), and the straight Colonials (also in two scales!) and... no progress, it seems. I also want to get in some Aeronef stuff, eventually. Maybe in 2009.

I hope this list helps to spur up some creative juices for all of you guys and gals. Goodnight, Irene.

Ah... Love is in the air...

Tomorrow being the Feast of St. Valentine and all, love and romance permeate the air. The memsahib has received her flowers thanks to the good folks at ProFlowers. Quite satisfied. And, gentlemen, we all know what that means for tonight, right?

Right! It means I get to do some work without hearing about how I never spend any time with her in the evenings! What else would it mean?

So, let us be thankful for this holiday of love, designed to prop up the revenues for greeting card, jewelry, flower and candy companies. Ah, the scent of money as all this red stuff makes them green. Not that I am opposed to profit, but let's just be honest about what we're doing.

I have nearly completed the Martian reinforcements, and then, lo and behold, I found an additional group of Guard infantry with Guns and a second cannon! Forgotten lead, always a good thing to find. The Pledge is holding well, and I will update my Pledge Log this weekend. Might even actually get a few 25/28mm minis done. I also found some Minifigs 25mm Scots taht I owe a friend of mine for something like two years now. (Sorry Jim!) Maybe I'll get them finished up in a week or two. That would be just in time for my 36th birthday celebration on the 28th of this month.

Alright, I admit its not the most entertaining of journal entries. The landship is coming, though. Photostats this weekend, I promise! Until next time, have a wonderful day tomorrow, and be sure to remind the lady in your life why you're the gentleman in hers.